|
 Homelessness
is defined by Webster’s Dictionary, as having no home
or permanent place of residence. Currently there are 32,
200 individuals in shelters in New York City according to
the New York City Department of Homeless Services (NYDHS).
But the number of those living on the street is unaccounted
for and is believed to be even greater.
According to the NYDHS the
average number of individuals in shelter each night in October
2005 was 32,094 and of that 12,641 were children.
As New Yorkers, it is a common occurrence to board the subway
and hear a heartrending speech from a homeless person begging
for a change to get a bite to eat for the day. It makes
even the least sensitive of us wonder how is it that so
many people are becoming homeless and what needs to be done
to stop this trend.
There is no definite cause for homelessness; there are numerous
reasons for why thousands of homeless people wind up on
the street. Some people claim that public housing doesn’t
do enough to house families.
“In New York City houses are expensive so I think
unused land should be used to build homes for the homeless,”
said Esther Nelson (17) from Brooklyn.
Substance
abuse may be a cause as well, an estimated one-third of
America's homeless have substance abuse problems whether
it be alcoholism or drug abuse. Although some homeless people
do have a job they do not make enough money for their labor
to support and house themselves or their families. Other
homeless people who don’t have a job chose the option
of begging or panhandling, which is in many areas illegal.
In 1988, The Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey banned panhandling
in Metro subways.
“Some homeless people are lazy. They just don’t
want to get up and go get a job,” said Nelson. But
there are some who understand the plight of the homeless
and how hard it must be to get a job. “I think its
stupid when people say 'oh that bum should just get up and
get a job' because c’mon, who's going to help a homeless
person?” said Marina Bronivetskaya (17) from Brooklyn.
“Many people come to NYC with a dream, whether it
be to get rich quick or become famous. However, most often
these dreams aren't realized. Rather, they're shattered
and many lives get broken, some loose touch with family
and friends, loose money, and even their homes.”
Homelessness is a simple predicament to fall into and a
difficult one to get out of. Approximately 16 % of single
adults are chronic, or long-term, shelter residents, meaning
they’ve spent at least two of the last four years
in shelter according to the NYDHS. When someone doesn’t
have a phone number, permanent address, or a place to change
and wash their clothes and themselves, it can be very hard
for the homeless to find or maintain jobs. So what is being
done to help these people with dreams deferred?
Earlier this month, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Governor
George E. Pataki announced, a $1 billion pact to finance
and develop 9,000 new units of supportive housing in New
York City called New York/New York III agreement.
The agreement targets chronically homeless single adults
from the street and shelter, single adults in State psychiatric
facilities, young adults with mental illness, chronically
homeless families, homeless people with substance abuse
disorders, chronically homeless individuals with. HIV/AIDS,
youth aging out of foster care.
Many believe that this is a good start, but still believe
that New Yorkers can do more.
“Not to say that New Yorkers are heartless, because
we know we aren't, but we are so busy and preoccupied with
our businesses, our fast paced lives, that often we forget
to give back to those less fortunate,” said Bronivetskaya.
“Now, when I pass by a homeless person, my heart does
break, just like most other people's but I figure that the
little change in my pocket won't help much, or I automatically
start judging the person with what society has taught me
of most of them being drug addicts or whatever.”
Don’t be an idle citizen to this homeless epidemic;
you can help.
HarlemLIVE's staff will be donating their time and effort
on Thanksgiving Day to help feed the homeless at Metropolitan
Baptist Church. To become involved in aiding the homeless
this winter call HarlemLIVE at 212 222 4681 and ask how
you can help.
|
